Care homes face unique health and safety challenges due to vulnerable residents, 24-hour operations, and the combination of residential and workplace requirements.
Care HomesPriority risk areas
Care homes typically need to address these key areas:
1. Fire safety (Critical)
Care homes are classified as "sleeping risk" premises, which attracts the highest level of scrutiny from fire authorities.
CQC will check your fire risk assessment and may take enforcement action if it's inadequate. Fire authorities can prosecute for serious deficiencies.
Key requirements:
- Comprehensive fire risk assessment by a competent person
- Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for all residents
- Regular fire drills (including night-time scenarios)
- Staff training in evacuation procedures
- Suitable detection and alarm systems
2. Manual handling
Moving and handling residents is one of the highest-risk activities in care settings.
Key requirements:
- Individual handling assessments for each resident
- Appropriate equipment (hoists, slide sheets, etc.)
- Staff training and competency assessment
- Regular review as residents' needs change
3. Legionella control
Hot and cold water systems require active management to prevent Legionella growth.
Key requirements:
- Written Legionella risk assessment
- Temperature monitoring regime
- Regular flushing of little-used outlets
- Maintenance records
4. Infection control
Beyond COVID-19, care homes must manage ongoing infection risks.
Key requirements:
- Infection control policy and procedures
- Staff training in hand hygiene and PPE use
- Outbreak management plans
- Cleaning schedules and standards
Regulatory oversight
Care homes face inspection from multiple bodies:
| Regulator | Focus |
|---|---|
| CQC | Overall quality and safety |
| Fire Authority | Fire safety compliance |
| HSE | Workplace health and safety |
| Local Authority | Environmental health |
These regulators share information. A fire safety concern flagged by CQC may result in a fire authority inspection, and vice versa.
Common compliance gaps
Based on enforcement trends, care homes often struggle with:
- Fire risk assessments not updated after building changes
- PEEPs missing or not reflecting current resident needs
- Manual handling assessments not reviewed regularly
- Legionella checks not documented properly
- Training records incomplete or out of date
Getting help
Care home compliance is complex. A specialist consultant can conduct a gap analysis and help prioritise improvements.
Related content
Topics:
- Fire Safety - Fire risk assessment and compliance
- Legionella - Water safety and Legionella control
- Manual Handling - Safe lifting and patient handling
- COSHH - Hazardous substances control
Articles:
Related sectors:
- Healthcare - NHS and healthcare settings
- Cleaners - Care home cleaning requirements
Tools:
- Responsibility Checker - Find out what applies to you
- Care Home Compliance Checklist - Downloadable checklist
*This guidance covers key health and safety requirements for UK care homes. It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal advice.